by Powell, C. G. ; Lavender, Cait; Rayns, Lisa; Hardin, Olivia; Nelson, Stephanie; Schulte, Liz
Chapter 4
Autumn’s stomach jumped as if she was on a rollercoaster and the thunder grew distant.
“Are you all right?” he asked after he set her on her feet.
When the aching subsided, she smiled and said a silent prayer of thanks. “I’m fine. What was that?”
“Ghost travel, of course.”
“Oh. Are we almost there?”
He paused for a moment. “You’re a strange woman. We’re standing at the door. Open your eyes.”
“They’re open,” she moaned.
His hand reached up to caress her cheek and his thumb brushed her temple. A fuzzy dark image appeared. The shock of seeing even in the dim moonlight startled her and caused a sharp pain in her head, so she closed her eyes but the image remained. Light skin and blond hair.
“Don’t be frightened,” he called when she flinched from pain.
“No! No! It’s not you,” she squealed. “I saw!”
He pulled his hand away. “I don’t understand. You saw what?”
“You! Well…a fuzzy you anyway.”
“You…you mean you can’t see?” he explained slowly, more to himself.
“It’s a new development, and I’m not good at it.” Autumn leaned backward when she sensed something moving toward her face. “Stop teasing. It was very sweet but you must have known.”
“I had no idea…I guess love really is blind.”
“Love?” Alarmed, she opened her eyes again, but the darkness had returned. She sighed. “Don’t get your hopes up.”
“Why not?” he asked, a bitter sound resonating in his words.
“I’m sorry.” She touched his face and leaned in to place a kiss on his cheek. “It has nothing to do with you. It’s…it’s my Richard, honestly. I’m still hoping he loves me enough to meet me, to find me. I know that’s silly after the way he died.”
“I’m sorry too. Had I known you were blind I would’ve…I would have understood why you didn’t recognize me.”
An uneasy feeling trickled through her as she searched her memory for a man she’d forgotten. But she didn’t recognize his voice and without seeing his face, nothing came to her. Gently, he caressed her cheeks with his hands and both of his thumbs moved up to her temples. Immediately, she saw him clearly.
Tall and as handsome as the day she met him, her Richard stood before her––muscular and shirtless. Short, wavy blond hair played on the breeze and framed his beautiful, boyish face. The bridge of his nose sat slightly crooked from a high school fight. The man she’d know anywhere stood before her, his head cocked to the right. His blue eyes sparkled dreamily, reminding her that her every wish had just come true. But…that’s…impossible…
Kiss first, ask questions later!
Urgently, she lunged forward and kissed his cool lips, wrapping her arms around him. He returned the kiss greedily, and his hands slid around her as if they’d always belonged there. When his tongue slipped into her mouth, she reveled in the passion for minutes before his arms tightened on her waist.
“Richard?” she asked, pulling away from him. “Is it really you?”
“Yes,” he affirmed.
“But how can this be? Why does your voice sound different?”
“The poison transformed my voice.”
“Why can I see when you touch my temples?”
“Does it matter, Autumn?”
“Yes! I––”
He silenced her with his mouth, his tongue caressing hers in the most loving way. She succumbed to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Ghost or not, he’d come for her, and the inevitable no longer scared her as it did before. Knowing that she wouldn’t be alone after she died brought her inner peace and calmness.
“No. You’re right. I suppose it doesn’t matter any more.”
She reached for his hands and replaced them on her temples so she could look at him. “Tell me. Tell me you forgive me.”
“I forgive you, and I’ve missed you,” he cooed.
Her heart soared as if it had grown wings. She longed to hug him again but she couldn’t stop staring at him. “Leaving you was the biggest mistake of my life. I’ve missed you every day.”
“Death cannot stop true love, Autumn. Haven’t you watched The Princess Bride?”
She smiled at the reminder. “You know it’s my favorite movie.”
“All things are possible if you only believe.”
“I’m ready now,” she said decidedly. “That was the bargain. I know that you forgive me so I’ll go peacefully.”
“But now I’m not ready,” he said seriously as he pulled her in to kiss her lips.
She panicked when his finger grazed the sore on her neck. “Wait!” Pushing away from him, she covered her face with her hands. “You can’t see me like this! I look frightful!” Moisture accumulated and slipped down her cheeks as she thought about spending eternity as a ghost soaked from rain and covered in blood. She’d scare people from her image alone! Not to mention, Richard would tire of her quickly and move onto another. She tried to stop her mind from going down that path but it disturbed her to think of Richard being with anyone else. She actually felt jealous of a beautiful entity who may or may not exist.
“I need to shower!” she said urgently.
“Relax, there’s time,” he said with a chuckle. He carefully pried a hand off her face and led her into the cottage.
After closing and locking the door, the sounds of the rain died out leaving only the low hum of the refrigerator to fill the small space. Autumn’s entire body tingled, and she stood in wonderment for moments, trying to place the feeling. The hairs on her arms stood up as if electricity floated in the air around her. Brownie Magic, she decided. Maybe they were healing her.
She made her way to the kitchen on her own, remembering the placement of each piece of furniture. Once there, she opened a package of cookies and set them on the table with several glasses of water.
“Are you expecting someone?” Richard asked from behind her, his lips burrowing into the hair by her ear.
“They’re for the Brownies.”
“You believe that story your grandmother told you then?”
“I can feel them, Richard. They’re healing me.”
He sighed and rubbed her cheek. “You haven’t accepted it yet. There are worse things than death, you know.”
“Like?”
“Never showering with a man,” he insisted lightly. “That’s a big one.”
Giggles fell out as she leaned into his chest. “Why didn’t we ever do that?”
“People always believe there will be more time.”
She nodded.
“You’re ready now,” he whispered sweetly. His lips continued moving down her cheek to her neck. “Accept me and accept your death.”
“Really, Richard. Is that the most romantic thing you can think to say to me right now?”
“I never was good at romancing you.”
“I don’t know,” she said, baring her neck in hopes that he’d continue kissing her. “No ones ever come back from the dead to get me. You’ll be waiting for me after?”
“Of course.”
She smiled as she hugged him tighter. “You’re getting better at the romance thing.”
Though still cool, there was warmth in the way his hand caressed hers as he led her to the bathroom. He’d been so calm and supportive, and it made her feel like the luckiest woman on the planet.
“Richard, I don’t think you’re a ghost at all. I think you’re an angel sent here to comfort me before I die.”
“Maybe I am,” he whispered.
“Thank you, God,” she said, glancing at the ceiling.
He turned her to face him. “Are you ready?”
His whisper resounded inside her mind, echoing her hidden fear. Tears slid down as she shook her head and confessed her fear to the angel. “I’m afraid.”
The arms that wrapped around her felt like wings, protective and comforting at the same time.
“I’ll stay with you.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
“Will it be horrible?”
Instead of answering, he moved to her left and turned on the shower. Her heart rate quickened, but she smiled and anxiously removed her rain-soaked clothing, looking forward to one last, beautiful night together.
“I’ve always loved you, Autumn.”
She reveled in the way he said it without hesitation. “And I’ve always loved you.”
He kissed her cheek, and his cool hands glided onto the bare skin around her waist.
“You’re still cold,” she said sadly.
“The warm water will help.”
Steam heated the room as she ignored his invitation. Instead, she slid her fingers along his chest and stroked the light coating of hair, wanting nothing more than to...
He seized her hands and chuckled. “I promised you a shower. It’s a few feet to your left.”
“Oh yeah.” Autumn felt for the glass door, opened it, and then stepped into the small corner shower. She held his hand and pulled him with her until the warm water pelted her skin with a soothing, cozy spray.
Moments after he closed the door, the clean scent of soap rose to her nose, and his arm went around her. A soft rag settled against her shoulders before he gently scrubbed small circles. She smiled, enjoying the feel. His mouth pressed against the sore spot on her throat, making her gasp, but when his tongue darted out and circled the wound, she moaned at the tingle it created. With a rag in each hand, he continued washing her neck, back, arms, stomach, and breasts, caressing her ever so softly. She grew light-headed and had to lean against the wall and hang onto the railing so she didn’t lose her balance.
He moved down to her legs, washed them, and licked along her skinned knees, the tingling making her giggle. She thought it odd but sweet that he was kissing, or rather licking, her sores. When he stood again, he kissed her lips, exploring her with his tongue and distracting her before he slipped a rag downward to clean her private area. Her face heated anyway.
“How’s the experience so far?” he asked when the other rag massaged her face.
“It’s like Heaven came early.”
“That good?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Close your eyes.”
She did as he instructed and waited while he cleaned the dried blood off her face. When he finished, his tongue skimmed the knob on her forehead until no pain lingered. She reached up to touch it but she thought the area was numb. She felt nothing. The doctors said she might feel numb just before the end. Alarmed by the lack of sensation, she said another prayer. Not yet, not yet, not yet.
Whether or not she wanted to relax, she had no choice when Richard massaged her scalp as he worked the shampoo in. Her eyes rolled back into her head from the sheer ecstasy, and by the time he finished rinsing out the conditioner, all other thoughts faded away.
“I love you,” she lulled, pulling the rag from his hand. She located the soap and lathered his body, finding as much pleasure in giving as receiving.
Muscles rippled everywhere and she delighted in exploring and cleaning, and exploring more. She got down on her knees to clean his legs but before she rose, she took his hard erection into her mouth. The sound of his moan sent a thrill through her system. She pushed deeper but he bent down and pulled her to her feet. His mouth nuzzled in to kiss her neck.
His hands skated to her ass and lifted her as she swathed her arms and legs around him. His mouth made sweet love to hers while he slowly lowered her onto his hard, waiting shaft. New feelings of ecstasy stirred when he buried himself inside her and a loud moan escaped her lips.
Effortlessly, he raised and lowered her again and again until she nearly lost her senses. His body consumed her, his mouth ravaged her, and she accepted everything. Dead or alive, she couldn’t spend another moment without him. She knew their love was true and stronger than any feeling she’d ever experienced. Her emotions mixed and swirled with his desire, creating a whirlwind of passion. She moaned, she called his name, her body thrilled at his touch, his realness, and when he filled her with his essence, she hugged him with a promise that she’d never doubt their love again.
“Angel or ghost, I’ll always love you no matter what you are,” she repeatedly panted between breaths. A sappy tear rolled down her cheek but the water disguised it.
He set her down and took her cheeks into his hand, then slid his thumbs across her temples so she could see him. “I’ll always love you too.”
She stared in awe at his beautiful smiling face when he said the words, and she felt them deeply in her heart. It felt wonderful and so peaceful that she knew without doubt he was indeed an angel sent by God to offer her comfort before she died. Richard was a miracle. Love was a miracle, one she should have fought harder for during her life.
She felt absolute clarity just before thunder cracked loudly outside, sealing her fate.
Chapter 5
The water shut off and Richard tugged Autumn out of the shower. Her body shook as he gently dried her with a towel and helped her slip into a robe. He even combed her hair. When he finished, he turned her toward the mirror. His fingertips ascended to her temples, and she saw herself for the first time in months. Her face glowed, and she bore no bruises or wounds at all. Her mouth fell open as she touched her forehead and her neck. No bump on her head, and her neck was smooth and soft. She pulled the robe up and glanced at her skinned knees. They too were healed.
“Did you do this or did the Brownies?”
Though he had no reflection in the mirror, she felt him kiss her neck from behind. “The important thing is you’re ready. Are you satisfied to move on now?”
Richard laid a hand on her shoulder, his comforting touch reminding her of peace. She raised her head and nodded, deciding she wanted to be with him more than anything. “Thank you for everything.”
“This isn’t goodbye.”
“I know.”
Feeling her way around, she led him to the sofa. When he sat down, she straddled him and cuddled into his chest. She couldn’t think of anything better.
The cottage shook as the ground tornado neared. Glass clanged and wood creaked and strained. She felt the Brownies fighting to protect the house to no avail. Death was on top of her, and yet, she wasn’t as anxious to escape it as she’d been before.
She found Richards mouth and kissed him while her hands felt the beautiful contours of his face. He held her tightly and when he kissed her one last time, everything else faded away, the sounds, his touch, her life.
Autumn awoke to the sound of a knock and opened her eyes. The darkness remained. “God, I went to Hell,” she groaned, closing her eyes to block out her misery. At the unmistakable creak of a hinges, she peeked one eye open to see the beautiful moon. She lost herself in it for moments before she realized she rested in a deep hole in the earth. A soft pillow comforted her head, and she wore a red dress as she lie in a casket, her casket. Someone had opened the lid. She sat up and shook her head, marveling at the way her body no longer ached.
“Good evening, beautiful,” Richard said. He peeked into the hole and reached his hand out to her. She got to her feet and took his hand, letting him help her out of the grave. And then she stared at him disbelievingly.
He wore a tuxedo with a red tie that matched her dress. His blond hair curled around his face, and his blue eyes smiled, making the whole world turn.
He looked like Heaven.
“What’s going on? I’m dead, aren’t I? Since when do ghosts have to dig their way out of coffins?”
Taking her into his arms, he placed a loving kiss on her neck. “I couldn’t be with you when you were alive, but I did keep tabs on you. When I heard you were dying, I was delighted. That’s why I bit you. It takes three days for the transformation to complete. The bat venom wasn’t too hard on you, was it? It’s been known to cause hallucinations.”
“That was all a dream? I’m not a ghost?”
/> “Vampire,” he said dismissively. “I was attacked the night we broke up, and I’ve been waiting four long years to tell you that I was going to wait for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…I wasn’t going to let you go.” He pulled a diamond ring out of his pocket and placed it on her finger. “Will you now let me whisk you away to live happily ever after?”
“Yes.” She nodded, staring at his beauty. “So it’s true then?”
He glanced at her curiously. “What?”
“Death cannot stop true love.”
He responded to the statement with a deep, romantic kiss.
About the Author
Lisa Rayns lives in a small town in South Dakota. She gave up working with explosives to write paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels, so her occupation hasn’t changed much. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and two adorable Siamese cats.
Other books
Wanted: Vampire (Free Blood)
Coming Soon from The Wild Rose Press
Curse of the Egyptian Goddess (A novella)
http://www.amazon.com/Curse-Egyptian-Goddess-ebook/dp/B0061L8ZFE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320083488&sr=1-1
Links
Website - http://www.lisarayns.com
Blog - http://lisarayns.blogspot.com
Twitter - http://twitter.com/lisarayns
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/lisarayns.author
Tell a Soul
By Olivia Hardin
Chapter 1
As Kristana counted out the exact change for the cost of the ad in the Rosemary Review, she felt her blood turn cold. She didn’t have much money left. If this ad didn’t produce a paying job she’d be reduced to begging on the street.
